Question

When presenting the alternative question the investigator must encourage the suspect to select one of the two options by using either of what two statements

Answer 1

In investigations, an alternative question should be posed in a neutral manner, encouraging suspects to use deduction and choose an answer without being led to a bias. It cannot suggest a correct answer nor can the options be mutually exclusive.

Step-by-step explanation:

When presenting an alternative question, the investigator should encourage the suspect to select one of the two options by using a statement that does not bias one option over the other or imply a correct answer. The question should be structured in such a way that it encourages deduction without leading to any preconceived conclusions. Moreover, the investigator must ensure that the options presented in the alternative question are not mutually exclusive, providing a fair chance for the suspect to choose based on the information they have.

In the context of law enforcement and criminal investigations, the scenario may involve suspects and pressing for information regarding a crime. The investigator's approach in questioning should be neutral and without coercion. The two statements an investigator might use would be similar to 'Did you see who left the building first, was it the man in the red jacket or the woman in the blue dress?' as opposed to leading questions that suggest a 'right' answer.

Answer 2

An investigator uses minimization or maximization techniques in an alternative question to encourage a suspect to choose between two options. Through incentives or perceived severity, this approach aims to elicit information from suspects in situations such as carrying illegal weapons or committing a more serious offense.

Step-by-step explanation:

When presenting an alternative question, the investigator seeks to encourage the suspect to choose between two options.

They could use either minimization techniques, which downplay the severity of one option to make it seem more acceptable, or maximization techniques, which magnify the potential consequences of the alternative to make the first option seem more favorable.

For example, an investigator might say, 'Did you break into the house because you were desperate for money, or was it just for the thrill of it?' The suspect is more likely to admit to the option that seems less severe.

In the context of an investigation where the suspects are apprehended for carrying an unlawful weapon and potentially committing armed robbery, an investigator might use the alternative question technique to try to pinpoint which suspect was involved in the more serious crime.

If the suspects are better off remaining silent to receive a minimal sentence, the investigator's challenge would be to provide incentives for them to speak, possibly by presenting one charge as less serious than the other.